In Kindergarten, it is important to make students excited to learn about maths in the world around them. Kindergarten students need to have the space to explore, make connections and come to their own realizations about numbers and shapes – and games are a great way to do this! Whether you are homeschooling or teaching a class, here are 47 math games perfect for Kindergarten-aged students. Try them out and watch the maths magic happen!
1. Online Math Games
Looking for an easy lesson activity with no preparation? Then these online games are perfect! Here you will find 70 free online games for your students to play, covering the 8 main topic areas.
Learn More: Education
2. PBS Online Math Games
The PBS website is free and has games linked to a range of topics to engage students in their math learning. Students will find over 100 games here featuring many familiar and friendly characters, such as Curious George, Elmo, and Dr. Seuss!
Learn More: PBS Kids
3. Splash Learn
Splash Learn online games are free and super fun! There are 61 games that cover a wide range of Kindergarten topics, including place value and number sense, addition and subtraction, time, money, measurement, data, and geometry.
Learn More: Splash Learn
4. Cool Kindergarten Online Games
Another great online resource for Kindergarten students. On this site, there are four key learning themes that students can explore through interactive videos and games. The graphics are engaging and super kid-friendly.
Learn More: Cool Kindergarten
5. Counting Game!
Materials: dice, small items to count, small bowls or cups
This game is great for students to play in pairs or individually. Students will roll the dice and place that many items into their bowls. Take turns and keep going until one person has put all of their items into their bowl!
Learn More: Buggy And Buddy
6. Addition and Subtraction Tower
Materials: dice, 2×2 Duplo blocks
Roll the dice and see who can make the tallest tower in this addition and subtraction tower game! Students simply roll the dice and add that many bricks to their tower. Or, if your students need a subtraction challenge, get them to build two equal-sized towers, roll the dice and then remove that many bricks. This time the shortest tower wins.
Learn More: Frugal Fun 4 Boys
7. Play Dough Stamp and Count
Materials: playdoh, various Duplo blocks, scrap paper, pen, a tray (optional)
Engage your students with stamping fun while they learn addition pairs! Simply write numbers on pieces of paper and tell students to stamp that amount on their playdough using Duplo bricks with 1, 2, 4, or 8 dots. Challenge them to make a number like 17 – if they have already stamped 8 dots, how many more to go? As an added bonus, this game helps to build students’ fine motor skills at the same time as their maths skills!
Learn More: Frugal Fun 4 Boys
8. Number Matching with Cups
Materials: paper cups, markers
This game is great for students who are learning to count. Draw circles with a different number of dots inside. Label the bottom of the cups with numbers 1 to 10 and students can try to match the cup to the correct circle on the paper.
Learn More: Fun Learning For Kids
9. Playdough Subtraction Smash
Materials: subtraction playdoh mat, playdoh, markers
Let the students roll 10 balls of playdough and place them down on the mat handout. Give students an amount to subtract and students can smash that number of balls to reveal the answer. This activity is a great way to learn subtraction and release some anger!
Learn More: 123 Homeschool 4 Me
10. Play Dough Numbers
Materials: playdough, printable numbers.
Optional Materials: beads, seeds, dry beans
Help your students to learn their numbers with this fun sensory activity! Simply place a number mat on the table and ask the children to manipulate the playdoh to create that number with the dough. A great game to support students’ fine motor skills and number recognition.
Learn More: How We Learn
11. Snowman Counting
Materials: snowman cut out, markers, buttons, hat cut-outs
In this game, students simply cut out a snowman and some hats from cardstock. Write numbers on the snowmans’ hats and let the students place the hat on the snowman by matching the number of buttons to the number on the hat.
Learn More: Mama Papa Bubba
12. Counting with Unifix Cubes
Materials: addition flashcards, unit cubes
Counting with unfix cubes is a great way for students to practice addition. Simply place flashcards on the floor or table and let the students solve the questions by collecting the correct amount of unit cubes.
Learn More: Home Grown Learners
13. Spin and Collect
Materials: worksheet, paper clip, unit cubes
In this activity, students each spin the spinner 10 times and circle the number they land on each time. When the students land on a number, they must collect the same number of cubes. In the end, the students will count all of their cubes and see who collected the most.
Learn More: Susan Jones Teaching
14. Animal Pattern Block Mats
Materials: colored blocks, free animal pattern mat
Do your students love learning about the ocean? Then this super fun hands-on activity is for you! In this activity, students use colored blocks to make animal patterns. In addition to learning about shapes and patterns, extend your students by talking about the features of each animal and use this activity as a chance to practice fine motor skills and visual discrimination.
Learn More: Life Over C’s
15. Make That Number
Materials needed: worksheet, dice
This game can be used to practice both subtraction and addition! Students will roll dice, generating numbers for addition and subtraction sums. Then, students color in or use a do-a-dot marker to mark the totals they have made. When a student gets four in a row, the game is over.
Learn More: The Measured Mom
16. Frog Jump Game
Materials: painters tape, tape measure
Optional Material: frog cut out
Students will practice their counting and measuring skills in this fun jumping game. Students will jump like a frog a certain number of times and measure how far they traveled. Use rulers to introduce standard units of measure or a piece of string or other objects to reinforce the students’ understanding of non-standard units.
Learn More: Coffee Cups And Crayons
17. Goldfish Counting
Materials: goldfish crackers, counting cards
Do your students like eating goldfish crackers? If so, entice them into this activity by using the crackers to learn and practice counting! Hand out a range of goldfish bowl counting cards and have the students cover each fish picture with a goldfish cracker – just be sure students don’t eat them instead!
Learn More: Life Over C’s
18. Matching Game Obstacle Course
Materials: string, chairs, pegs, deck of cards or sticky notes
Weave string back and forth between a hallway of chairs to create an obstacle course for your students. Peg cards or sticky notes with numbers onto the string and give students a number to navigate their way through the obstacle course to collect.
Learn More: Hands-On As We Grow
19. Marshmallow Subtraction
Materials: marshmallows, markers, free printable worksheet
Another great activity for hungry students – and in this activity, eating is encouraged! Students can learn subtraction with marshmallows, counting out the total number, and eating the amount subtracted to discover the total amount left behind.
Learn More: Life Over C’s
20. Sunglasses Addition
Materials required: Sunglasses printable, scissors, glue
Let students learn addition in this practical activity. Students must find the matching addition sum and total to make a complete pair of sunglasses!
Learn More: A Dab of Glue Will Do
21. One More One Less
Materials: free worksheet, dice, crayons or color pencils
This activity is a great way to practice one more or one less than. Students take turns to roll a dice and color the hexagon that is either one more or one less than the number on the dice.
Learn More: Susan Jones Teaching
22. Number Sense
Materials: worksheet, scissors, color pencils, glue
Through this game, students in Kindergarten can further develop their number sense through sorting through cards showing different representations of a number and other numbers.
Learn More: The Moffatt Girls
23. Math Bingo
Materials: bingo cards, markers, flashcards
Strengthen your students’ number recognition skills with this classic game! Draw flashcards with numbers from 1 to 20 and provide each student with a bingo card and markers. As you call out the numbers, have them mark the corresponding squares on their bingo cards. The first to fill a row wins!
Learn More: Infinity Math Creations
24. Storytime Math
Materials: storybooks, manipulatives
For an engaging math-based activity, combine the magic of stories with numbers! Select captivating storybooks like “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” and ask your little ones to count the food items within the narrative. This exercise not only nurtures their mathematical acumen but also boosts their reading comprehension.
Learn More: YouTube
25. Shape Scavenger Hunt
Materials: flashcards, clipboards
Help your learners identify and understand different shapes with an adventurous quest! Give them a set of shape flashcards and a clipboard, and send them on an exciting mission around the classroom or outside to find real-life examples of each shape.
Learn More: Frugal Fun 4 Boys
26. Pattern Train
Materials: construction paper, glue, scissors
Patterns are a fundamental mathematical concept, so help your kiddos board the pattern train with this craft activity! Have them make a train using different colored sheets of construction paper. They can learn about repeating patterns while also nurturing their artistic side.
Learn More: My Bored Toddler
27. Animal Counting
Materials: plastic toy animals, flashcards
Make learning playful and interactive by engaging your students in a simple counting game. Armed with a collection of small plastic toy animals, distribute flashcards that depict numbers to your littles. Then, task them with placing the correct number of animals on each card.
Learn More: I Can Teach My Child
28. Fruit Salad Sorting
Materials: plastic fruits, baskets
Do you want to enhance your categorization skills? Supply your littles with an assortment of plastic fruits and baskets, instructing them to sort the fruits based on various criteria like type, color, or size.
Learn More: Amazon
29. Estimation Jar
Materials: a jar, small objects (buttons, erasers, etc.), paper, pencil
Who doesn’t love a good guessing game? Fill a clear jar with small objects and have your students make an educated guess about how many are inside. This teaches them valuable estimation skills and serves as an excellent introduction to larger numbers!
Learn More: Playful Notes
30. Money Match-Up
Materials: laptop, WiFi connection
Teach your pupils about different money values with a simple and interactive exercise. Encourage them to match the coins at the top of their screen to their corresponding values at the bottom. You will not only foster number recognition but also instill a solid foundation in financial literacy.
Learn More: Word Wall
31. Geoboard Shapes
Materials: geoboard, rubber bands
Introduce your students to fundamental concepts in geometry with a creative activity. Provide them with geoboards and rubber bands, tasking them with exploring and creating shapes.
Learn More: How We Montessori
32. Tally Mark Race
Materials: paper, markers, glue, beads
Want to infuse your classroom with energy and friendly rivalry? This activity does just that! Have two students go head-to-head as they race to make the correct number of tally marks for a given number of beads.
Learn More: Pinterest
33. Time Telling Puzzles
Materials: clock puzzles, timer
Strengthen your learners’ grasp of basic time concepts and improve their time-telling skills with this competitive activity featuring clock puzzles! Provide your learners with a set of puzzles featuring different times on clocks and challenge them to complete their set as quickly as possible.
Learn More: 3 Dinosaurs
34. Dice Addition Race
Materials: dice, paper, pencil
This next activity will reinforce your students’ addition skills and bring out their competitive spirit! Have them roll two dice, add both numbers and record the answer. The first one to get to a predetermined number wins!
Learn More: Twinkl
35. Math Memory
Materials: flashcards, markers
Combine fun and learning in an engaging memory game. Create a set of matching cards with numbers and their corresponding number of objects. Then, have your pupils flip over two cards at a time to find a match; reinforcing their number recognition and counting skills.
Learn More: Free Homeschool Deals
36. Domino Number Match
Materials: dominoes, number flashcards
Foster your learners’ counting and addition skills using dominoes! Encourage them to match each domino with a number flashcard that represents the sum of the dots on the domino.
Learn More: Learn As You Play
37. Building Block Measurements
Materials: building blocks, various classroom objects
This activity promotes hands-on exploration and introduces your students to the concept of measurement. Simply instruct them to use building blocks to measure the length or height of various objects in the classroom.
Learn More: A Kinderteacher Life
38. Number Line Hop
Materials: large number line (either on the ground or a mat), flashcards
If you’re keen to keep your kids physically active while also promoting learning, this activity is for you. Create a large number line, either on the floor or a mat, and invite your kiddos to hop to the numbers as you call them out.
Learn More: Counting With Kids
39. Shape Sorters
Materials: different shape sorters, timer
Turn learning into a friendly competition with this activity that relies on shape sorters! These popular toys invite your kiddos to slot different shapes into slots; enhancing their shape recognition and categorization abilities in the process. Make it a race to see who can sort their shapes the fastest!
Learn More: Amazon
40. LeapFrog Math
Materials: Lilypad numbers, music
Your kiddos will love this energetic game that reinforces number recognition skills! Lay out LilyPad numbers on the floor, play music, and instruct your students to jump on a LilyPad when the music stops. Once everyone’s on a number, get them to identify the number they’ve landed on.
Learn More: Twinkl
41. Sock Pairs
Materials: socks, baskets
Turn a mundane task into an entertaining math adventure! Give your students an even number of mismatched socks and have them sort them into pairs; introducing concepts of matching and counting by twos.
Learn More: Days With Grey
42. Connect Four Math
Materials: Connect Four game, flashcards
Make math more exciting by adding a numerical twist to the classic game of Connect Four. Challenge your learners to answer a math problem correctly before they can place a disk into the grid.
Learn More: The Happy Teacher
43. Egg Carton Counting
Materials: egg carton, small objects, flashcards
Transform an ordinary egg carton into a counting tool with this activity! Fill each section with a different number of small objects and challenge your little ones to count them correctly.
Learn More: Teachers Mag
44. Skip Counting Jump Rope
Materials: jump rope, flashcards
Incorporate physical activity into your math lessons to create a dynamic learning environment. Have your students skip count by 2s, 5s, or 10s while jumping rope.
Learn More: Education World
45. Number Fishing
Materials: homemade fish with numbers, magnetic fishing pole
Your kiddos will have a splashing good time with this fishing game! Number each fish and pair your kiddos with a magnetic pole. As they reel in their catch, ask them to identify the number on it. You will not only boost their number recognition skills but also foster excitement and eager participation.
Learn More: YouTube
46. Hot Potato Math
Materials: a potato, music, flashcards
With a humble potato, some lively music, and a stack of flashcards, you can create an exciting learning environment and boost your pupils’ mental agility. Turn on the music, gather your little ones around in a circle, and have them pass the potato around. When the music stops, whoever has the potato must answer a math problem.
Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers
47. Nature Count and Classify
Materials: nature items, sorting trays
Take your learners outdoors for an experience that hones their counting and categorization skills while they enjoy the beauty of nature. Have them collect and count the different items they find, and sort them into categories.
Learn More: Little Pine Learners
The math games reviewed in this article cover a whole host of math topics for Kindergarten, including place value, number sense, shape, and measurements. The hands-on nature of the activities is sure to engage young learners and help them to become more comfortable with difficult math concepts. So what are you waiting for? Start trying them out and building your student’s love of math today!
Frequently Asked Questions
How high can a 5-year-old count?
Most students of this age are able to recognize and count to 10. However, students that are closer to 6 or who have engaged in extra tuition may also be able to count to 100, although this is not expected.
How can you make math fun?
Playing fun math games and building in opportunities for hands-on learning is the best way to keep students active and engaged while also supporting the development of their understanding of complex math topics.
What kind of math do Kindergarteners learn?
The key areas covered in Kindergarten include counting, addition, subtraction, measurement, and geometry.